San Rafael man could become Redbook's 'Hottest Husband in America'

It was a surprise to Matt Alba of San Rafael to learn he'd been nominated in a national magazine contest as one of the hottest husbands in America.

Alba, 36, was recently selected as one of the top 25 hottest husbands nationwide from a pool of more than 1,500 contestants as part of a Redbook contest. He's now competing to win the No. 1 spot, which is based on votes from the public on the magazine's website through Oct. 28.

Alba said he learned he'd been entered in the contest when he saw his picture on Redbook's website — courtesy of his wife Sarah Alba, 36.

"I was surprised. I was surprised it had gotten that far, but it didn't surprise me Sarah had submitted it," Matt Alba said. "Like her British mom says, she's cheeky, she's got a fire to her."

Sarah Alba said she learned of the contest through a website banner advertisement and figured it was worth a shot. A few photos and 500 words later, she had submitted her thoughts on why her husband is hot, hoping he'd win them a five-day, four-night trip for two to the Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina worth $5,400.

"This past year, we hadn't really traveled anywhere," said Sarah Alba, adding that she and her husband's conflicting schedules make setting aside alone time difficult. "I really, truly feel he's one of the best husbands and fathers out there. I know it. I'm just letting everybody else know it."

Matt Alba has lived in San Rafael for seven years and been a firefighter with the city of San Francisco for 11 years, previously working with fire departments in Kentfield, Mill Valley and Larkspur. He said he expects to be teased by his coworkers for years about his hot husband status.

"This is about the best gift to my coworkers she could give them," he said. "This is going to last my career."

Sarah Alba said she loves her husband's selflessness and the way he interacts with their 4-year-old daughter Ashlyn, even learning to braid her hair. She said he captivated her attention the first time they met.

"I'd never met anyone so genuinely nice and such a good guy," she said. "I knew he was right for me and I never went back."

While she doesn't think any of the other contestants have anything on her husband, Matt Alba isn't convinced and is just going with the flow.